Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Donald Sloan has been getting more playing time. Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- A few days ago, Donald Sloan had gone nearly two weeks without feeling the hardwood beneath his sneakers during a game. The Cavaliers' backup point guard lost his job to Jeremy Pargo in mid-November, and thereby lost a chance to ease into the starting lineup when Kyrie Irvingfractured his left index finger Nov. 17.

But with no warning, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott turned to Sloan on Friday in Atlanta. And again Saturday against Portland.

His performance, particularly against the Trail Blazers when he logged 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and three assists in 16 minutes, helped his cause for more minutes.

"The last couple games Donald's played, he's done a very good job of sticking with our principles and doing what he has to do on the defensive end," Scott said. "Offensively, he was very good as far as running the offense, getting into the paint, getting his teammates open shots and being able to knock down his shot, as well."

Sloan originally lost his spot in the rotation because Pargo had been playing better defense, Scott said. Sloan merely did what he knew he had to do.

"It's not too tough," Sloan said. "It's just what we're supposed to do. This is our job. No matter what the circumstance or situation is, you have to always be ready. It's easier said than done, but that's where your mental strength comes in."

Kyrie closer: Irving has been cleared for all but contact drills with the Cavaliers, Scott said. Irving has been sitting the past two weeks with a fractured left index finger. The original prognosis was four weeks of recovery, and Irving is on target, Scott said.

Irving might be closer to returning, but not so close that there was a possibility he might play Monday -- despite the fact that he sat on the Cavaliers bench in warm-ups. Irving actually was active for the game against the Pistons because he wanted to sit on the Cleveland bench ... but he forgot to bring a sport coat so he could wear street clothes. Officially, the Cavaliers' inactive players against Detroit were Dion Waiters and recent signee Kevin Jones (still with D-League team Canton Charge).

Consequences: Scott blames himself. The Cavaliers coach said he can be blamed for Cleveland's 24 defensive mistakes -- by his count -- in a double-overtime loss to Portland on Saturday. Scott said that within the past week, he relaxed his decree to yank anyone from the game when a defensive mistake was made.

"I kind of backed off of it the last week, thinking, 'OK, we've kind of learned,'" Scott said. "But no, we haven't. So I'm going back to: You make mistakes, you're coming out of the game. I'll put somebody else in there who can get the job done."

Moving up:Daniel Gibson tied Wesley Person for third place on the Cavaliers' all-time list of 3-pointers made with a trey against Portland on Saturday. Gibson entered Monday's game with 550 career 3-pointers and is shooting 41 percent from long-distance this season.

Double-double streak:Anderson Varejao's streak of double doubles -- at eight straight heading into Monday's game at Detroit -- is not a Cavaliers record. That's held by Elmore Smith, who recorded 11 straight double doubles in 1978.

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